At the end of the night, UFC 127 may have left the mixed martial arts community with more questions than answers. The event saw some big upsets and controversial decisions, but either way the Ultimate Fighting Championship has to move forward. How it does so is an interesting question, with a number of potential fights available after Saturday’s event down under was brought to an end.
Jon Fitch versus BJ Penn
Say what you will, but the rematch needs to happen. Both fighters may have done enough to win the fight, but the judges felt differently and awarded the draw. Penn looked very dejected and expected to face a defeat, while Fitch was stunned in his own right. Their opinions aside, a rematch could come with bigger implications. Now occurring after the UFC 129 meeting between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields, this fight could in turn become the match to fill the vacated welterweight title if St. Pierre was to be victorious and move to 185. In combat sports, a draw is a precarious outcome that demands a rematch to bring closure for both fighters.
Denis Siver versus Jacob Volkmann
Denis Siver went a long way towards throwing his name into the hat for UFC lightweight title contention. While his resume has shown a lack of positive finishes against upper echelon talent, such as Melvin Guillard, Gray Maynard, and Ross Pearson, he has proven that he will show up to bring the fight. A showdown with Jacob Volkmann would show how far he is to really becoming a title contender. Volkmann has a strong BJJ background that George Sotiropoulos was supposed to use for victory, however with one major difference: wrestling. Volkmann has a strong base in freestyle wrestling that will test Siver’s takedown defense. This matchup would be a sure crowd pleaser.
Michael Bisping versus Alan Belcher
Michael Bisping quieted his most vocal detractor on Saturday with a resounding stoppage of Jorge Rivera. Bisping is steadily pushing his way back into the discussion of top ten middleweights. The returning Alan Belcher would be a staunch test for Bisping. Before going down to that serious eye injury that threatened his career, Belcher was making a run at a number one contender’s slot. A fight between these two dynamic strikers would go a long way in making a title challenger out of one of them.
Kyle Noke versus Dave Branch
Kyle Noke was unable to win the Ultimate Fighter season 11, but he has still made waves in the UFC. With his 95 second defeat of Chris Camozzi he pushed his record to 3-0 in the Octagon. Dave Branch is another newcomer that could use a staunch test. Branch has been victorious in his last two appearances after suffering a defeat at the hands of Gerald Harris. Noke would be the favorite in this matchup, but Branch would be a game opponent who would test Noke in a variety of ways.
